Welcome everyone to the latest edition of the LSU Tigers position previews! This week it’s the biggest position when it comes to LSU’s offense: the running back.
Unlike the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns, they have a clear starter in house and ready to attack the day. Without further ado, let’s focus in on the position
Departing Players:
One of the biggest players that LSU has ever had in Leonard Fournette is now in the pros after getting drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars. His junior season was less than ideal as he was hampered with an ankle injury he suffered back in the fall. He still put up some strong numbers when he appeared on the field.
Fournette was the only running back to leave the program at the end of last season. While having a player like him depart may hurt, there’s a lot of talent coming back.
Returning Players:
The big dog for LSU this season will be Derrius Guice. Ed Orgeron said it himself during SEC Media Days and it makes perfect sense as to why. As a sophomore, Guice showed why he’s just as good as Fournette. He wound up with 1,387 yards on the ground and 15 touchdowns. You look at his pure ability on the field, expect to see him get the ball more often than not.
Meanwhile, he has a couple of other players that you can look towards to be behind Guice like Darrell Williams and Nick Brossette. You’ll even see Leonard’s little brother Lanard show up and move the ball down the field in short yardage situations.
While there’s no clear-cut number two running back, LSU should be fine with the stable of backs that are returning from last season.
The Other Guys:
We’ve pretty much talked about everyone else on the list, but left one player out and that’s Clyde Edwards-Helaire. The Baton Rouge native has been regarded one of the best running backs in the country in this last recruiting class and you can expect him to compete when he begins fall camp.
Overall Thoughts:
While Fournette is no longer a part of the team, they will not be missing a beat with Derrius Guice in the backfield.
What makes this position a little more intriguing has to be the fact that you can go a number of ways with the offense. According to Orgeron, it will be a more balanced offense that will run through Guice. This means you could see him out in the open field on some screen passes which allows his run style to be used to the fullest extent.
-Clint Domingue